As a member of the baby boomer generation, I was an infant in Mom’s arms in the early 1950s when babies ruled the world – at least in the United States.
My parents moved to a new house in a new suburb on Long Island, New York, in 1952. Every house sheltered a twenty- or thirty-something couple. Dads went to work, the majority commuting into ‘the city’ – New York City, of course. My Dad carpooled for a couple of years, but as the Long Island Expressway morphed into one long traffic jam, he switched to the Long Island Railroad.
Moms remained at home with a growing brood of babies. The women lead a lifestyle different from my experience raising kids in the 1970s and 80s, and different from many of today’s 21st century Moms. 1950s Moms did not spend hours chauffeuring kids to activities, play groups, and parties, and most Moms did not work outside the home.
Families owned one car. Moms either threw the kids in the car (literally – this was before seat belts and car seats) and drove Dad to the train station, or survived without a car. When prosperity began seeping into homes by the 1960s, a major purchase became a second car, usually a second hand one, but wheels!
Although a lot has changed, much remains the same. I have spent time grandsitting, and assisting Mom and Dad with my grandchildren over the years. They live in a fairly new, constantly expanding community. Every time I visit there are more houses, playgrounds, pools, schools, stores, and restaurants.
When visiting I find myself in the midst of a 21st century baby boom. There are young children, babies, and dogs in every house in the neighborhood. Dads and Moms haul kids in SUVs and push double strollers, usually with one or two additional kids walking alongside. It is baby boom déjà vu – babies rule once again.
My daughter-in-law was in charge of the kids’ school Book Fair one year. I watched the two-year-old and drove the older kids to school, picked them up, then transported them to various after-school activities.
Each morning I got up too early, showered, and dressed before the kids descended.
I made sure the two older ones dressed and had all their school gear ready to go before heading out the door.
Breakfast was the next order of business. One or two want pancakes – mini ones from a box in the freezer. The third wants cold cereal. Or maybe one wants mini pancakes, one a bagel, then the other decides she wants a bagel, but now there are none left. She’ll settle for an English muffin – but only if she can spread the butter herself. One morning one wants mini-pancakes (there is a theme here – the two-year-old has a one-track breakfast mind), the other two feast on banana bread. There is always fruit along with the main course. Mom helps, but leaves for school early.
Dishes are collected and put in the dishwasher. Then we get ready to leave the house. Boots or shoes pulled on. An argument arises about the need for socks and coats.
Don’t forget book bags! Do you have your lunch boxes, snacks, homework?
All three pile into the car. The older two belt themselves into car and booster seats. The youngest requires the assistance of an older person – a sibling, parent, grandparent, helpful neighbor. She squirms and squeaks in protest in her high voice and refuses to cooperate until handed a snack. I know, she just had breakfast. But that was minutes ago, and she wasn’t hungry then, and didn’t eat much, but now she’s starving…
One morning we drove to school only to discover the eight-year-old left his backpack at home, which he needed because his homework was in it. After making sure the kindergartener got to her class, the two-year-old and I drove home, grabbed the backpack, hopped back in the car, drove back to school, found the third grade room, and dropped off the bag.
The two-year-old and I were left to enjoy the day together. I was already exhausted!
Activities throughout the city occupied most afternoons. Or after school we all went home to an enjoyable time of sibling fighting, rivalry, general mayhem, disorder, and pleadings to do what is prohibited according to The Laws of Mom and Dad, but which the kids figured Grandma would let them do. Which she did – sometimes
Such is life for a 21st century baby boom generation and their Grandma. But here’s a pleasant thought – all these kids will grow up, go to work, and pump money into the Social Security and Medicare systems, assuming the programs are still around.
Mom and Dad can breathe easy. They are not just raising kids. They are planning for their own retirement.
Leave a Reply